Media Channel Identification with Multi-Match Detection and Disambiguation Based on Location

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are methods and systems involving location-based disambiguation of media channel identification, in a scenario where a fingerprint of media content being rendered by a media presentation device matches multiple reference fingerprints corresponding respectively with multiple different media channels. Upon detecting such a multi-match situation, a server or other entity will use a location of the media presentation device as a basis to disambiguate between the matching reference fingerprints and thus to determine the channel on which the media content being rendered by the media presentation device is arriving.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/017,218,filed Jun. 25, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/842,206, filed Dec. 14, 2017, which issued as U.S. Pat. No.10,057,638 and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/179,143, filed Jun. 10, 2016, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,924,222and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/301,616. Each of these priority applications is hereby incorporatedby reference in its entirety. In addition, the disclosure of U.S. PatentApplication Pub. No. 2015/0181263 is hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND

A typical media presentation device operates to receive an analog ordigital media stream representing media content such as video and/oraudio content and to render and present the media content on a userinterface such as a display screen and/or an audio speaker. Examples ofsuch devices include, without limitation, televisions, computermonitors, projection systems, loudspeakers, headphones, and the like.

In many cases, such a media presentation device may be in communicationwith a receiver, such as a local set top box or other similar device ora remote server, that has access to numerous discrete channels of mediacontent and that can selectively deliver a given such channel's mediacontent to the media presentation device for playout.

By way of example, a television may be communicatively linked with acable-TV set top box that has access to a set of cable-TV channels, andthe set top box may be configured to receive user input selecting aparticular channel and to responsively tune to the selected channel andoutput to the television the media content of the selected channel, forpresentation of the media content to a user. As another example, aloudspeaker may be communicatively linked with a radio that has accessto a set of radio stations, and the radio may be configured to receiveuser input selecting a particular channel (station) and to responsivelytune to the selected channel and output to the loudspeaker the mediacontent of the selected channel, for presentation of the media contentto a user. And as still another example, a media presentation devicesuch as a display or speaker may be communicatively linked with acomputer that has access to a myriad of online streaming media channels,and the computer may be configured to receive user input selecting aparticular channel and to responsively initiate receipt and output ofthe selected media content and provide the media content to the displayand/or speaker for presentation to a user.

SUMMARY

When a media presentation device receives and renders media content, themedia presentation device may not have an indication of which channelcarried the media content. A receiver or other device that selectivelytunes to the channel and receives the media content and that providesthe media content to the media presentation device may have suchinformation, but the media presentation device that receives the mediacontent from that other device may not have such information. Forexample, if a television is coupled with a cable-TV set top box and auser selects a particular cable channel on the set top box, the set topbox may thereby have an indication of the selected channel as thechannel on which the set top box is then receiving a media content thatis being output to the television. But the television itself may merelyreceive and render the media content and may have no indication of theselected channel.

For various reasons, however, it may be useful to determine which ofvarious channels is the channel that carries the content being renderedby a media presentation device. Further, it may be useful to do sowithout receiving from a channel-selection device (e.g., receiver orremote control) a report of the channel to which that device is tuned,and perhaps without any involvement of the channel-selection device. Forinstance, it may be useful for the media presentation device itself,and/or a network server working in cooperation with the mediapresentation device, to determine the channel based on an evaluation ofthe media content that is being rendered by the media presentationdevice. Given knowledge of the channel on which the media content isarriving, the media presentation device, the network server, and/oranother entity could then carry out one or more operations keyed to thechannel, such as determining and recording an extent to which mediacontent of that channel is being played, selectively replacing apredetermined portion of the media content with alternative content(such as a replacement advertisement), or superimposing channel-specificcontent over the media content for presentation along with the mediacontent, among numerous other possibilities.

One method to determine the channel on which media content is arrivingis to have the media presentation device (or perhaps an adjunct device)and/or a network server generate a digital fingerprint of the mediacontent that is being rendered by the media presentation device, and tothen compare that fingerprint with reference fingerprint dataestablished for media content known to be provided on particularchannels.

For example, a network server or other such entity may establish orotherwise have access to reference data that includes a referencefingerprint of each of the channels available to provide media contentto the media presentation device (e.g., each of the channels within asubscription plan for a set-top box that supplies media content to themedia presentation device) and that maps each reference fingerprint tothe channel on which the media content is provided. As the mediapresentation device receives and renders given media content, the mediapresentation device may then generate a fingerprint of that mediacontent and, through a network communication interface, report thegenerated fingerprint to the network server for analysis. The networkserver may then compare the reported fingerprint with the referencefingerprint data to find a match with a reference fingerprint and tothereby determine that the channel on which the media content isarriving is the channel that the reference data maps with that referencefingerprint. Upon thereby determining the channel on which the mediacontent is arriving, the network server may then communicate anindication of the channel to the media presentation device, and themedia presentation device may take channel-specific action.Alternatively, the network server itself or another entity may takechannel-specific action based on the determined channel.

Unfortunately, however, a problem that can arise in this process is thatthe same media content may be provided on multiple different channels,whether concurrently or at different times, and so a fingerprint ofmedia content being rendered by a media presentation device may notcorrelate with just the channel on which the media content is arriving.For example, a sports game or political event might be broadcastconcurrently on multiple different channels, or a syndicated televisionor radio show might be broadcast on multiple different such channelsconcurrently or at different times. In these or other scenarios, if themedia presentation device is presenting such media content and generatesand provides a fingerprint of the media content, that fingerprint couldbe mapped to multiple reference fingerprints, and consequently thechannel-identification would be inconclusive.

As a specific example of this, consider a scenario where two differentvideo content providers both broadcast the same sports game, each on aseparate respective channel, and where an advertiser has a contract withjust one of the content providers to present a pop-up advertisement onthat provider's broadcast of the game. In this scenario, when a mediapresentation device is receiving and presenting one of these broadcasts,if the media presentation device generates and provides to the networkserver a fingerprint of the broadcast, the network server may determinethat the fingerprint matches both content providers' broadcasts of thegame, and so it would be unclear whether the media presentation deviceshould present the pop-up advertisement or not.

Disclosed herein are methods and systems to help disambiguate channelidentification in a scenario where fingerprint data of media contentmatches multiple reference fingerprints corresponding respectively withmultiple different channels. In accordance with the disclosure, anetwork server or other entity carrying out this analysis will detect amulti-match scenario by determining that the fingerprint of the mediacontent at issue matches two or more reference fingerprintscorresponding respectively with different channels. Faced with thedetected multi-match scenario, the entity will then use contextinformation regarding the media content being rendered by the mediapresentation device as a basis to disambiguate the channel identity soas to determine which of the channels the media content being renderedby the media presentation device is arriving on, so as to facilitatetaking channel-specific action.

One example of such context information is location of the mediapresentation device. In particular, it may be the case that the samemedia content is being provided or scheduled to be provided in multipledifferent locations, such as multiple different geographic market areas(e.g., different metropolitan areas or the like), on a respectivechannel in each location. To address that situation, each of two or morereference fingerprints in a multi-match scenario could be associatedwith a respective location, and knowledge of location of the mediapresentation device that is rendering the media content could then beused as a basis to disambiguate between the two or more matchingreference fingerprints and thus to determine the channel on which themedia content being rendered by the media presentation device isarriving.

Accordingly, in one respect, disclosed is a method that involves takingaction based on a channel determined through location-baseddisambiguation. The method includes a computing system determining thata fingerprint of media content being rendered by a media presentationdevice matches multiple reference fingerprints each corresponding with adifferent respective channel. Further, the method includes, responsiveto determining that the fingerprint matches the multiple referencefingerprints each corresponding with a different respective channel,performing disambiguation based at least in part on location of themedia presentation device, to determine which channel the mediapresentation device is receiving the media content on. And the methodthen includes taking action based on the determined channel.

Further, in another respect, disclosed is a non-transitory computerreadable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by aprocessing unit to carry out various operations. The operations includedetermining that a fingerprint of media content being rendered by amedia presentation device matches multiple reference fingerprints eachcorresponding with a different respective channel. Further, theoperations include, responsive to determining that the fingerprintmatches the multiple reference fingerprints each corresponding with adifferent respective channel, performing disambiguation based at leastin part on location of the media presentation device, to determine whichchannel carrying the media content being rendered by the mediapresentation device. And the operations include taking action based onthe determined channel.

In addition, in another respect, disclosed is a system including anetwork communication interface, a processing unit, non-transitory datastorage, and program instructions stored in (e.g., on) thenon-transitory data storage and executable by the processing unit tocarry out various operations. The operations include receiving from amedia presentation device, via the network communication interface, afingerprint of media content being rendered by the media presentationdevice. Further, the operations include determining that the receivedfingerprint matches multiple reference fingerprints each correspondingwith a different respective channel. And the operations include,responsive to determining that the received fingerprint matches themultiple reference fingerprints each corresponding with a differentrespective channel, performing disambiguation based at least in part ona location of the media presentation device, to determine which channelcarries the media content being rendered by the media presentationdevice. The operations then include taking action based on thedetermined channel.

These as well as other aspects, advantages, and alternatives will becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the followingdetailed description, with reference where appropriate to theaccompanying drawings. Further, it should be understood that thedescriptions provided in this summary and below are intended toillustrate the invention by way of example only and not by way oflimitation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an example system in whichvarious disclosed principles can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example network arrangementin which a media presentation device communicates with a network serverto facilitate implementing various disclosed principles.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of an example system includingdistribution of media in multiple different locations.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart depicting operations that can be carried out inaccordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram of an example network server.

FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of an example media presentationdevice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of anexample system in which various disclosed principles can be applied. Itwill be understood, however, that this and other arrangements andprocesses described herein can take various other forms. For instance,elements and operations can be re-ordered, distributed, replicated,combined, omitted, added, or otherwise modified. Further, it will beunderstood that functions described herein as being carried out by oneor more entities could be implemented by and/or on behalf of thoseentities, through hardware, firmware, and/or software, such as by one ormore processing units executing program instructions or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the example system includes one or more mediacontent sources 12 (e.g., broadcasters, web servers, etc.), one or moremedia content distributors 14 (e.g., multi-channel distributors, such ascable providers, satellite providers, over-the-air broadcast providers,web aggregators, etc.), one or more media content receivers 16 (e.g.,cable receivers, satellite receivers, over-the-air broadcast receivers,computers or other streaming media receivers, etc.), and one or moreclients or media presentation devices 18 (e.g., televisions or otherdisplay devices, loudspeakers or other audio output devices, etc.)

In practice, for instance, the media content sources 12 could benational broadcasters, such as ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, HBO, and CNN, themedia content distributors 14 could be local affiliates and/or otherlocal content distributors in particular designated market areas (DMAs),and the receivers 16 and media presentation devices 18 could then besituated at customer premises, such as homes or business establishments.With this or other arrangements, the content sources 12 could delivermedia content to the content distributors 14 for distribution toreceivers 16 at customer premises, and the content distributors coulddistribute the media content to the receivers 16 on discrete channels(e.g., particular frequencies). Each receiver could then respond to userinput or one or more other triggers by tuning to a selected channel andoutputting to a media presentation device 18 the media content that isarriving on the selected channel. And the media presentation device 18could receive and render the media content (e.g., display or otherwisepresent the content).

In this arrangement, as the media presentation device receives andrenders this media content, the media presentation device may have noindication of the channel on which the media content is arriving, i.e.,of the channel to which the receiver is tuned. Rather, the mediapresentation device may be configured simply to receive the mediacontent as a media stream from the receiver and to render the receivedmedia content. Per the present disclosure, however, the mediapresentation device may be in communication with a network server andmay work with the network server to facilitate identification of thechannel and thus to facilitate taking useful channel-specific action.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example network arrangement in which a mediapresentation device 18 is in communication with a network server 20 viaa network 22, such as the Internet. In practice, the media presentationdevice 18 may sit as a node on a local area network (LAN) at customerpremises, with the media presentation device having an assigned InternetProtocol (IP) address on the LAN and the LAN having an IP address on theInternet. Further, the network server 20 may also be accessible at an IPaddress on the Internet. With this arrangement, the media presentationdevice may initiate and engage in IP communication with the networkserver via the Internet, to report a fingerprint of media content beingrendered by the media presentation device, so as to facilitate channelidentification and associated action.

As discussed above, the network server 20 or another entity operating inaccordance with the present disclosure could establish or have access toreference data 24 for media content that is carried or scheduled to becarried on at least each of various channels accessible to the mediapresentation device 18. The reference data, which could be stored in arelational database or other form, could include a respective referencefingerprint for each channel, perhaps a reference fingerprint stream ofmedia content that was most recently carried by the channel (e.g., on asliding window basis covering a most recent period of time).Alternatively or additionally, the reference data could include arespective reference fingerprint (e.g., reference fingerprint stream) ofeach media content program (e.g., television broadcast, radio broadcast,streaming media file, etc.) that is available and/or scheduled to becarried on a particular channel. As such, the reference data could mapeach reference fingerprint to a channel on which the associated mediacontent (i.e., the content uniquely identified by the referencefingerprint) is or may be carried.

In mapping reference fingerprints to channels, the reference data couldcharacterize the channels by various attributes, to help distinguish thechannels from each other. For example, where a receiver or other suchdevice provides multiple different channels selectable by channelnumber, the reference data could characterize the channels by theirrespective channel numbers. And as another example, where each channelcarries a particular content source's content, such as the content ofone of a particular broadcaster for instance, the reference data couldcharacterize the channels by their respective content sources'identities. Still further, where more than one content distributor(e.g., multichannel distributor) distribute content sources' content,the reference data could characterize the channels by their respectivecontent distributors' identities. In practice, the reference data couldcorrelate each reference fingerprint with one or more of these or otherattributes.

The network server 20 or other entity operating in accordance with thepresent disclosure could establish some or all of this reference data byanalyzing media content arriving on each of the various channels (e.g.,at least the media content arriving on each of various channels that areavailable to a receiver that serves the media presentation device). Tofacilitate this, as shown, the server could include or be interconnectedwith one or more receivers 16 that are configured to receive mediacontent from one or more of the media content distributors 14 on variouschannels in much the same way that receivers would be configured toreceive content at customer premises. For instance, the server couldinclude or be interconnected with one or more cable-TV set top boxes,radios, computers, or other media receivers, or could be configured toemulate one or more such receivers. The server could then be configuredto receive and analyze the respective media content arriving on eachchannel and to generate for each channel a reference fingerprint of thechannel's media content, using any media fingerprinting process nowknown or later developed (e.g., computing a hash on a per frame or otherbasis, or otherwise identifying, extracting and digitally representingcomponent features unique to the media content).

In practice, the server could be configured to receive concurrently onmultiple such channels (perhaps all of the channels) and to analyze andgenerate respective fingerprints for the channels in parallel, or theserver might be configured to hop from channel to channel, possiblyrepeatedly cycling through the channels, to analyze and generate arespective fingerprint for each channel. Further, the server couldcontinue to do this in real-time, saving a respective fingerprint of amost recent time window of media content for each channel, forreference. And the server could record each channel's referencefingerprint in the reference data in association with a characterizationof the channel (e.g., with attributes such as those noted above) andtimestamp information indicating a time of receipt of the associatedmedia content. Here, the server would have knowledge of each channel(e.g., channel number), just as a receiver would normally have knowledgeof the channel to which the receiver is tuned. Further, the server mayhave access to guide information or other such data specifyingattributes of each such channel (e.g., content source identity, contentdistributor identity, etc.), so that the server can determine and recordchannel attributes respectively for each reference fingerprint.

Alternatively or additionally, the server could receive or perhapsestablish such reference fingerprints for media content programs thatare available or scheduled to be provided on particular channels. Forinstance, providers or distributors of various media content programscould generate reference fingerprints for the media content programs,again using any media fingerprinting process now known or laterdeveloped, and those reference fingerprints could be provided to theserver. Alternatively, the server could receive advance copies of themedia content programs and could itself generate such referencefingerprints. Further, the server could receive or determine fromprogram guide information the channel on which the media content programis available or scheduled to be provided, and perhaps a day and time atwhich the media content is scheduled to be provided. The server couldthen record each media content program's reference fingerprint in thereference data in association with the channel on which the mediacontent program is available or scheduled to be carried, likewise withassociated channel attributes, and perhaps in association with a day andtime at which the media content program is scheduled to be provided.

Given this or other such reference data, when the server is presentedwith a fingerprint of media content that was received on an unknownchannel, the server could match the fingerprint with one of the storedreference fingerprints, using any fingerprint matching process now knownor later developed, and could thereby conclude that the media content atissue arrived on the channel that the reference data maps to thematching reference fingerprint. Thus, if the server is faced with afingerprint of media content that is being rendered by the mediapresentation device 18, the server could compare the fingerprint withthe reference fingerprints in the reference data. And if the serverthereby finds a matching reference fingerprint, then the server couldidentify the channel that the reference data maps with the matchingreference fingerprint and could conclude that that is the channel onwhich the media presentation device is receiving the media content(i.e., that that is the channel carrying the media content beingrendered by the media presentation device). In turn, the server couldresponsively take a channel-specific action based on the identifiedchannel, or cause or enable one or more other entities to take achannel-specific action based on the identified channel.

To facilitate this, the media presentation device 18 or another entitycould be configured to generate a fingerprint of the media content thatis being rendered by the media presentation device and to transmit thefingerprint to server 20 for analysis.

For instance, as shown in FIG. 2, the media presentation device couldinclude a fingerprint generator 26, which could be configured togenerate a digital fingerprint of media content being rendered by themedia presentation device. Such a fingerprint generator could beconfigured to generate the fingerprint of media content as the mediapresentation device is receiving the media content on a channel from areceiver 16 and/or as the media presentation device is processing themedia content for presentation. As such, the fingerprint generator couldreceive as input a copy of the media content arriving at the mediapresentation device from the receiver and/or being processed forpresentation by the media presentation device, and to apply any mediafingerprinting process now known or later developed to generate afingerprint of the media content.

In practice, the fingerprint generator could be configured to generatesuch a fingerprint as a fingerprint stream on an ongoing basis, such ason a per frame basis (e.g., per key-frame basis) or other basis. And themedia presentation device could be configured to transmit thefingerprint via network 22 to a server 20 for analysis. By way ofexample, the media presentation device could be configured toperiodically or from time to time transmit to the server a fingerprintrepresenting a latest frame, series of frames or other portion of themedia content being rendered by the media presentation device. Inparticular, the media presentation device could generate a messagecarrying the latest generated fingerprint, along with one or moretimestamps and/or other such data as well as an identifier of the mediapresentation device, and could transmit the message to the server's IPaddress. And the server may thereby receive the fingerprint foranalysis.

Alternatively, the media presentation device could transmit to theserver, and the server could thus receive, various data regarding themedia content being rendered by the media presentation device, likewiseon an ongoing basis or other basis, to enable the server itself oranother entity to generate a fingerprint of the media content beingrendered by the media presentation device. For example, the mediapresentation device could transmit to the server portions of the mediacontent being rendered by the media presentation device, such asindividual frames (e.g., snapshots) or other segments of the mediacontent. And the server could apply any media fingerprinting process nowknown or later developed to generate a fingerprint of the media contentfor analysis.

Through the process described above, the server could then compare thefingerprint of the media content being rendered by the mediapresentation device with the reference fingerprints in the referencedata, using any digital fingerprint comparison process now known orlater developed. And as noted above, if the server thereby finds amatching reference fingerprint, the server could determine the channelthat the reference data maps with the matching reference fingerprint andcould conclude that the determined channel is the channel carrying themedia content being rendered by the media presentation device.

In response to thereby determining the channel at issue, the servercould then take, or cause to be taken, one or more channel-specificactions based on the determination of the channel. In particular, theserver itself could take action based on the channel determination, orthe server could signal to another entity, perhaps to the mediapresentation device, to cause the other entity to take action based onthe channel determination.

For example, the server could record the fact that the mediapresentation device is presenting content of that particular channel, aspart of a channel rating or analytics system to measure the extent towhich particular channels are being presented by media presentationdevices. For instance, the media presentation device could regularly(e.g., periodically) report to the server a fingerprint of the mediacontent that the media presentation device is rendering, and the servercould carry out processes such as those discussed herein to determinethe channel being rendered. Each time the server thus determines that achannel is being rendered, the server could add to a count or otherstatistic of the channel being rendered, as data to indicate the extentto which that channel is being presented.

As another example, the server could responsively cause the mediapresentation device to present supplemental content, such as a pop-upadvertisement as discussed above, a commercial break, or a channelidentification, among other possibilities, possibly as a replacement forone or more portions of the media content. For instance, given knowledgeof the channel at issue, the server could generate or select (e.g., fromserver data storage) particular supplemental media content associatedspecifically with the determined channel and could transmit thesupplemental media content to the media presentation device for themedia presentation device to present in conjunction with the mediacontent that the media presentation device is receiving from thereceiver. The media presentation device could thus receive thesupplemental media content from the server and present it in conjunctionwith the media content that the media presentation device is receivingfrom the receiver.

In practice, this process could involve the server receiving inreal-time from the media presentation device a fingerprint of the mediacontent being rendered by the media presentation device and the serverdetermining that the received fingerprint matches a referencefingerprint of media content that the server is concurrently receiving(or has scheduled for the same time) on a known channel.

In some cases, however, there may be a time difference between when themedia presentation device renders the media content and timestamps andtransmits the fingerprint to the server and when the server receives themedia content on the known channel and otherwise has the referencefingerprint timestamped. The server could account for this timedifference by comparing the received fingerprint over a sliding windowof the reference fingerprint or vice versa. Further, the server couldaccount for this time difference when taking action in response to adetermined match between the received fingerprint and the referencefingerprint. For example, if the media presentation device receives themedia content sufficiently earlier than the server's timestamp for thecontent (e.g., more than a few seconds earlier), the server could stillidentify a fingerprint match and could record analytics data. But inresponse to detecting that time difference, the server might forgohaving the media presentation device present associated supplementalcontent, to help avoid a situation where the media presentation devicepresents the supplemental content too late (e.g., is out of sync) from auser's perspective. On the other hand, if the server detects afingerprint match for a sufficient period of time and/or determines thatthe matching content will continue, the server may have the mediapresentation device present supplemental content even when faced withsuch a time difference.

In any event, through these or other such processes, a network server orother entity can determine the channel on which the media presentationdevice is receiving the media content at issue. And once the entitydetermines the channel, the entity may then take action based on thechannel determination. Alternatively, the entity could signal to anotherentity, perhaps back to the media presentation device, to cause theother entity to take action based on the channel determination. Otherexamples are possible as well.

In line with the discussion above, the server 20 or other entity thathas access to reference data as noted above could be configured toidentify multi-match scenarios, perhaps by detecting among the referencedata various reference fingerprints that match each other.

In one implementation, for instance, the server could regularly analyzethe reference data in search of multi-match scenarios, comparing pairsof reference fingerprints in the reference data using any now known orlater developed media fingerprint matching process, in an effort to findreference fingerprints that match each other. Upon finding each suchmatch of at least two of the reference fingerprints, the server couldthen flag the reference fingerprints as being a multi-match group. Sucha flag could indicate that there will be a potential ambiguity if thefingerprint of media content being rendered by the media presentationdevice matches any of the reference fingerprints in the flaggedmulti-match group. The server could flag the reference fingerprints asbeing a multi-match group in various ways. For instance, the servercould cross-reference the reference fingerprints of the multi-matchgroup in the reference data, to indicate that they are members of amulti-match group. Alternatively, the server could store a single copyof the reference fingerprint and associate that copy with variouschannels on which the media content represented by the referencefingerprint is carried.

With this implementation, when the server receives from a mediapresentation device a fingerprint of media content being rendered by themedia presentation device and the server determines that the receivedfingerprint matches a reference fingerprint, the server could thenreadily determine from the reference data whether a multi-matchsituation exists. If the matching reference fingerprint is not flaggedas being a member of a multi-match group, then the server could concludethat a single-match situation (rather than a multi-match situation)exists, in which case, as discussed above, the server could then readilydetermine from the reference data the channel associated with thematching reference fingerprint and could conclude that that is thechannel carrying the media content being rendered by the mediapresentation device. Whereas, if the matching reference fingerprint isflagged as being a member of a multi-match group, then the server couldconclude that a multi-match situation (rather than a single-matchsituation) exists, in which case the server may need to perform adisambiguation process to help identify the channel at issue from amongthose associated with the reference fingerprints of the multi-matchgroup.

Alternatively, in another implementation, the server could identify amulti-match group at the time the server receives a fingerprint from themedia presentation device. For instance, when the server receives thefingerprint from the media presentation device, the server could comparethe received fingerprint with all of the reference fingerprints in thereference data. If the server thereby detects that the receivedfingerprint matches only one of the reference fingerprints, then theserver could conclude that a single-match situation (rather than amulti-match situation) exists, in which case the server could thenreadily determine from the reference data the channel associated withthe matching reference fingerprint and could conclude that that is thechannel carrying the media content being rendered by the mediapresentation device. Whereas, if the server detects that the receivedfingerprint matches two or more of the reference fingerprints, then theserver could conclude that a multi-match situation (rather than asingle-match situation) exists, in which case the server may need toperform a disambiguation process to help identify the channel at issuefrom among those associated with the reference fingerprints of themulti-match group.

Note that the process of detecting a multi-match situation involving twoor more reference fingerprints could be performed even if the tworeference fingerprints represent the same media content carried on twodifferent channels at a time delay relative to one another, i.e., wherethe presentation of the media content on one of the channels is timeshifted in relation to presentation of the same media content on anotherone of the channels. The fingerprint matching process could account forthis time shifting and could still find a match if the fingerprintsotherwise match each other, such as by comparing one fingerprint over asliding window with the other fingerprint. For instance, the process offinding matching reference fingerprints within the reference data couldinvolve searching for reference fingerprints that match one another andare presented and/or scheduled at respective times that are within athreshold time interval of each other.

As noted above, when the server or other entity carrying out thisanalysis detects that the fingerprint of the media content beingrendered by the media presentation device matches multiple referencefingerprints corresponding with multiple channels, the entity couldapply a disambiguation process based on context information, to helpdetermine which of the channels associated with the multi-match group isthe actual channel carrying the media content being rendered by themedia presentation device.

Further, in accordance with the present disclosure, a useful example ofsuch context information is location of the media presentation device.In particular, it may be the case that the same media content is beingprovided or scheduled to be provided in multiple different locations,such as multiple different geographic markets, metropolitan areas, orthe like, on a different respective channel in each location. In thatcase, each of two or more reference fingerprints in a multi-match groupcould be associated with a respective location, and knowledge oflocation of the media presentation device that is rendering the mediacontent could then be used as a basis (alone or in combination with oneor more other factors) to disambiguate between the two or more matchingreference fingerprints.

FIG. 3 depicts an example system where this could occur in practice, asa variation or more specific representation of the arrangement shown inFIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the example system includes one or moremedia content sources 12 and then includes one or more media contentdistributors 14 in each of multiple separate locations. These locationscould be geographically separate areas, such as discrete geographicmarkets (e.g., DMAs), metropolitan areas, or the like. With thisarrangement, the one or more content distributors in each location couldbe arranged to deliver media content to one or more receivers 16 in thelocation, such as receivers at customer premises in the location. Andthe receivers could then be configured to deliver media content to mediapresentation devices 18 in the location, such as media presentationdevices at customer premises in the location.

As an example of this, a representative content source could be abroadcaster that provides a national content feed to a separateaffiliate respectively in each of three separate market areas, and eachaffiliate could distribute the content feed on a respective localchannel to receivers in its market area. Through user input or the like,receivers in each market could then be selectively tuned to the localchannel carrying that content feed in their market and could output thecontent feed to media presentation devices, and the media presentationdevices could render the content feed for presentation. With thisexample arrangement, the three affiliates' local channels would allcarry the same national content feed as each other. Therefore, thereference data 24 discussed above could have a multi-match group of thereference fingerprints of these three local channels.

To facilitate location-based disambiguation of channel identity in thisor any other arrangement, the reference data could indicate the locationof each reference fingerprint's associated channel, i.e., the locationwhere the associated channel is provided. And the server could beconfigured to determine a location of the media presentation device atissue and to compare the determined location with the locationsindicated for the reference fingerprints in the multi-match group. Uponthereby finding that the media presentation device location matches alocation indicated for one of the reference fingerprints in themulti-match group, the server could then conclude based at least on thatfinding (possibly along with one or more other considerations) that thechannel associated with that reference fingerprint is the channelcarrying the media content being rendered by the media presentationdevice.

The reference data could indicate the location of each referencefingerprint's associated channel in various ways. For instance, thereference data could hold for each reference fingerprint a databaserecord that includes the reference fingerprint and the associatedchannel location. Alternatively, the reference data could hold separatesets of reference fingerprints respectively for each location. Otherarrangements are possible as well.

Server 20 could record such location information as the server generatesthe reference fingerprints. By way of example, the server could includeor be interconnected with receivers 16 that are configured to receivemedia content on the various channels on a per-location basis, such asone or more receivers per location, with each receiver being configuredto receive the channels that are available to media presentation devicesin its associated location. The server could thus receive and analyzemedia content on each of these channels and generate referencefingerprints as noted above, and the server could map the referencefingerprint of each channel's media content to the channel's respectivelocation and identity.

Alternatively, the server could receive reference fingerprints fromsources or distributors of media content as noted above and couldreceive an indication of, or determine, for each reference fingerprintthe location of the channel on which the media content is arriving or isscheduled to arrive, and the server could likewise record the referencefingerprint of each channel's media content, mapping each referencefingerprint to the channel's respective location and identity.

The server could then identify multi-match scenarios in this referencedata in the manner discussed above. Here, however, a representativemulti-match group could include matching reference fingerprints forseparate channels that are provided in respective, different locations.For instance, in the example discussed above where a broadcasterprovides a content feed to multiple separately located affiliates fordistribution to receivers in their respective locations, the referencedata could include matching reference fingerprints for the affiliates'respective channels providing this content. Each reference fingerprintwould thus be mapped to a different location and a different respectivechannel.

Further, the server could determine the location of the mediapresentation device in various ways. By way of example, the mediapresentation device could be provisioned (e.g., through user input) withan indication of its location, and the media presentation device couldinclude that indication of its location in its communication providingthe server with the fingerprint for analysis. Or the media presentationdevice could determine its location through anylocation-determination-system now known or later developed (e.g., usingthe Global Positioning System, or based on nearby WiFi networkidentifiers, etc.) and could likewise indicate its location in itscommunication to the server. Thus, the server could determine the mediapresentation device's location by reading the indication of locationfrom a communication received from the media presentation device.

As another example, the server could determine the location of the mediapresentation device based on the media presentation device's IP address,perhaps the global IP address of a LAN on which the media presentationdevice operates. For instance, the server could query a database thatmaps IP addresses to locations so as to determine the locationcorresponding with the source IP address of the communication receivedfrom the media presentation device.

Still further, as another example, the server could determine thelocation of the media presentation device based on identification oflocation-distinguishing content being rendered by the media presentationdevice. For instance, although channels in different locations maygenerally carry the same media content as each other (e.g., the samemedia content programs as each other), it may be the case that eachlocation's channel carries at least some media content that is specificto its location. By identifying that location-specific media content aspart of the media content being rendered by the media presentationdevice, the server could thereby determine which reference fingerprintin the multi-match group corresponds with the channel on which mediacontent is arriving at the media presentation device.

Without limitation, examples of such location-specific content include alocal commercial break or local news in the media content being renderedby the media presentation device. For instance, in the example discussedabove, each local affiliate may inject a different respective commercialbreak in the national content feed, with the commercial break in eachlocation being specific to the affiliate's location, such as advertisinga local business or providing other local information. Alternatively,each local affiliate may include a news program on its channel, with thenews program being specific to the affiliate's location. If the servercould identify the presence of such a local commercial break or localnews program being rendered by the media presentation device, the servercould use that identified local commercial or local news program as abasis to determine which reference fingerprint is the correct one.

To facilitate disambiguation based on inclusion of a local commercial orlocal news program in the media content being rendered by the mediapresentation device, the reference data 24 could additionally includereference fingerprints of various commercials (media content definingcommercials) or news programs (media content defining news programs) ona per-location basis. For instance, the server could be provided withthe commercials or news programs along with indications of location percommercial or news program, and the server could generate referencefingerprints of the commercials or news programs using any media contentfingerprinting process now known or later developed and could store eachsuch reference fingerprint in correlation with an indication of theassociated location of the commercial or news program. Alternatively,the server could receive and store each such reference fingerprint alongwith the reference fingerprint's associated location.

Provided with reference fingerprints of commercials or news programs ona per-location basis, the server could then determine that a fingerprintreceived from the media presentation device matches the referencefingerprint of a particular commercial or news program and thus that thelocation of the media presentation device is the location that thereference data associates with the matching commercial's or newsprogram's reference fingerprint.

In practice, for instance, the server may regularly receive from themedia presentation device a fingerprint of the media content beingrendered by the media presentation device. And at one point in time, theserver may determine that the fingerprint from the media presentationdevice matches multiple reference fingerprints, thus presenting amulti-match situation. But at another point in time (before or after),optimally close in time to when the multi-match situation wasidentified, the server could may determine that the fingerprint from themedia presentation device matches a local commercial's or news program'sreference fingerprint and thus that the media presentation device is atthe location that the reference data associates with that localcommercial's reference fingerprint. The server could then determinewhich reference fingerprint in the multi-match group is associated withthe determined location and could thereby conclude that that referencefingerprint's associated channel is the channel carrying media contentto the media presentation device.

In this or other implementations, the server could determine that thelocation of the media presentation device matches the locationassociated with a particular reference fingerprint in various ways. Forexample, if the location of the media presentation device is particulargeographic coordinates, such as latitude and longitude coordinates, andthe location associated with the reference fingerprint is a locationarea defined by geographic coordinates, the server could determinewhether the coordinates of the media presentation device fall within thelocation area defined for the reference fingerprint. As another example,if the location of the media presentation device is a location area(e.g., defined by geographic coordinates, zip code, or the like) and thelocation associated with the reference fingerprint is a location area,the server could determine if the media presentation device's locationarea coincides partially or fully with the reference fingerprint'slocation area. Other approaches are possible as well.

Once the server has determined the location of the media presentationdevice, the server could record an indication of that location incorrelation with an identifier of the media presentation device, so asto then be able to use that location information when later seeking toresolve a multi-match situation involving the media presentation device.As noted above, the media presentation device may provide its identifierto the server when the media presentation device transmits fingerprintdata to the server. Alternatively, the media presentation device mayprovide its identifier to the server at another time, such as during aninitial configuration or registration process. The server could thenstore that identifier in a profile record or the like for the mediapresentation device, and when the server determines the location of themedia presentation device, the server could store an indication of thedetermined location in that profile record as well. That way, when theserver later receives from the media presentation device a fingerprintof media content being rendered by the media presentation device and theserver encounters a multi-match situation, the server can quicklydetermine from the profile record the location of the media presentationdevice and can use that location as a basis to disambiguate as describedabove.

Alternatively or additionally, once the server has determined thelocation of the media presentation device, the server could report anindication of that location to the media presentation device, and themedia presentation device could store and later report that location tothe server to facilitate multi-match resolution. For example, the servercould include an indication of the determined location within a responsemessage that the server sends to the media presentation device (perhapswith a message in which the server directs the media presentation deviceto present particular supplemental content or the like). And the mediapresentation device can then programmatically store that indication oflocation for later use. When the media presentation device thentransmits a fingerprint to the server, the media presentation device caninclude with its transmission the indication of location, so that theserver can readily use that location as a basis to disambiguate.

Further, note that the server could use the presence oflocation-specific content, or for that matter other sorts ofchannel-specific content, in other ways to help resolve a multi-matchsituation. By way of example, when the server has detected that two ormore reference fingerprints generally match each other, the server mayfurther evaluate the matching fingerprints over a period of time (e.g.,several hours, a day, or the like) in search of uniquely distinguishingfingerprint data, which could be a fingerprint of a local news programor other such content unique to just one of the channels. And the servercould likewise evaluate the fingerprint received from the mediapresentation device and identify fingerprint data matching that uniquelydistinguishing fingerprint data in the reference fingerprint. Uponfinding such a match, the server could then conclude that the channelbeing rendered by the media presentation device is the channelassociated with the matching reference fingerprint.

In line with the depiction in FIG. 3, it may also be the case that morethan one media content distributor provides the same media content in agiven location, but each media content distributor provides the mediacontent on a different respective channel. For instance, in or for agiven location, in a given location, there may be a cable-TV provider, asatellite-TV provider, an over-the-air broadcast TV provider, and astreaming media provider, all providing the same national orlocal-affiliate content feed, but each on their own respective channel.With such an arrangement, a multi-match group could contain matchingreference fingerprints for multiple such channels in the same location.

To help further disambiguate in this situation, the sever may also takeinto account the identity of the media content distributor. For example,the server could determine that the location of the media presentationdevice matches the location of two or more of the reference fingerprintsin a multi-match group, and the server could further (i) determine theidentity of the media content distributor that provides media content tothe receiver feeding the media presentation device, and (ii) determinewhich of the two or more reference fingerprints is associated with achannel provided by that media content distributor. The server couldthen conclude that the channel associated with the determined referencefingerprint is the channel that is carrying the media content beingrendered by the media presentation device.

In this implementation, the reference data could indicate for eachreference fingerprint the media content distributor that provides theassociated channel. For instance, the server could establish or receivethis information and could store each reference fingerprint in adatabase relationship with an indication of the media content providerthat provides the associated channel.

Further, the server could determine in various ways which media contentdistributor provides the channel that carries media content beingrendered by the media presentation device. For instance, the mediapresentation device could be provisioned (e.g., through user input) withan indication of the media content distributor that provides channels tothe receiver feeding the media presentation device, and the mediapresentation device could include that indication in its communicationto the server providing the fingerprint for analysis. Thus, the servercould determine the media content distributor by receiving thisindication from the media presentation device. Alternatively, thereference data could include distributor-specific referencefingerprints, such as fingerprints of commercials, onscreen guides,logos, slogans, or the like, that are specific to particular mediacontent distributors, and the server could determine the media contentdistributor in a given instance by determining that a fingerprintprovided by the media presentation device matches such adistributor-specific reference fingerprint. Other approaches arepossible as well.

Note that while the forgoing discussion focuses primarily on server 20identifying a multi-match situation and then disambiguating based onconsideration of context, some or all of the operations described couldalternatively be carried out by one or more other entities, in place ofor in cooperation with the server.

For instance, one or more of the operations could be carried out by themedia presentation device itself or by an adjunct system in localcommunication with the media presentation device. By way of example, themedia presentation device itself could be provisioned with or haveaccess to reference data like that described above, and the mediapresentation device could itself refer to the reference data to identifya multi-match situation, to disambiguate, and to identify the channelthat provides the media content being rendered by the media presentationdevice. Further, the media presentation device could then itself takechannel-specific action, such as presenting channel-specific content,recording channel presentation, or the like, or could cause one or moreother entities to take such action. Other variations are possible aswell.

FIG. 4 is next a flow chart depicting a method that can be carried outin line with the discussion above. One or more of the operations in themethod depicted by FIG. 4 could be carried out by one or more entities,including, without limitation, a network server, a media presentationdevice, and/or one or more entities operating on behalf of or incooperation with these or other entities. Any such entity could embody acomputing system, such as a programmed processing unit or the like,configured to carry out one or more of the method operations. Further, anon-transitory computer readable medium (e.g., disc storage, flashstorage, or the like) could have stored thereon instructions executableby a processing unit to carry out the various depicted operations.

As shown in FIG. 4, at block 40, the method includes a computing systemdetermining that a fingerprint of media content (e.g., video contentand/or audio content) being rendered by a media presentation devicematches multiple reference fingerprints each corresponding with adifferent respective channel. At block 42, the method then includes,responsive to determining that the fingerprint matches the multiplereference fingerprints each corresponding with a different respectivechannel, performing disambiguation based at least in part on location ofthe media presentation device, to determine which channel the mediapresentation device is receiving the media content on (e.g., todetermine the channel carrying the media content that is being renderedby the media presentation device). And at block 44, the method includestaking action based on the determined channel.

In line with the discussion above, the computing system could be otherthan the media presentation device, and the fingerprint of the mediacontent being rendered by the media presentation device could begenerated by the media presentation device. The method could theninvolve the computing system receiving from the media presentationdevice the fingerprint of media content being rendered by the mediapresentation device.

Further, as discussed above, the multiple reference fingerprints couldbe selected from a plurality of reference fingerprints in referencedata, in which case determining that the fingerprint of media contentbeing rendered by the media presentation device matches the multiplereference fingerprints could involve (i) comparing the fingerprint ofmedia content being rendered by the media presentation device with theplurality of reference fingerprints in the reference data and (ii) basedon the comparing, determining that the fingerprint of media contentbeing rendered by the media presentation device matches the multiplereference fingerprints.

Still further, as discussed above, the method could involve detectingand flagging a multi-match group including the multiple referencefingerprints, in which case determining that the fingerprint of mediacontent being rendered by the media presentation device matches themultiple reference fingerprints could involve determining that thefingerprint matches the reference fingerprints of the flaggedmulti-match group.

Additionally in line with the discussion above, the act of performingdisambiguation based at least in part on the location of the mediapresentation device could involve (i) determining the location of themedia presentation device and (ii) using the determined location of themedia presentation device as a basis to determine which one of thematching reference fingerprints corresponds with the channel on whichthe media presentation device is receiving the media content.

And as discussed above, the act of determining the location of the mediapresentation device could take various forms. For instance, it could bebased on a network address (e.g., IP address) of the media presentationdevice and/or on location information reported by the media presentationdevice. Alternatively or additionally, it could involve (i) detectinglocation-specific content based on fingerprint evaluation of the mediacontent being rendered by a media presentation device and (ii)determining the location of the media presentation device based on thedetected location-specific content.

Still further, the location-specific content could comprise a localcommercial or local news program. And in that case, the act ofdetermining the location of the media presentation device based on thedetected location-specific content could involve (i) determining alocation associated with the local commercial and (ii) based on thedetermined of the location associated with the local commercial,determining that the location of the media presentation device is thelocation associated with the local commercial.

In addition, as discussed above, the act of performing disambiguationbased at least in part on the location of the media presentation devicecould involve performing the disambiguation based at least in part onthe location of the media presentation device and based at least in parton an identity of a distributor of the media content being rendered bythe media presentation device. For instance, the act could involve (i)determining that two or more of the matching reference fingerprintscorrespond with channels in the same location as each other, (ii)determining the identity of the distributor of the media content beingrendered by the media presentation device, and (iii) selecting one ofthe two or more matching reference fingerprints based at least in parton the selected matching reference fingerprint corresponding with achannel provided by the determining distributor of the media contentbeing rendered by the media presentation device.

From another perspective, as discussed above, each reference fingerprintof the multiple reference fingerprints could have an associated channellocation, in which case performing disambiguation based on the locationof the media presentation device could involve (i) determining thelocation of the media presentation device, (ii) identifying, based onthe determined location of the media presentation device one of thematching reference fingerprints based at least in part on matching ofthe determined location of the media presentation device with theassociated channel location of the identified reference fingerprint, and(iii) based at least in part on the identifying, determining that thechannel with which the identified reference fingerprint corresponds isthe channel on which the media presentation device is receiving themedia content.

Further, as discussed above, the act of taking action based on thedetermined channel could also take various forms. For example, theaction could include (i) causing supplemental channel-specific contentto be presented in conjunction with the media content being rendered bythe media presentation device and/or (ii) recording presentation of thedetermined channel for use in a channel ratings system.

FIG. 5 is next a simplified block diagram of an example system operablein accordance with the present disclosure. This system could represent anetwork server as described above, and/or one or more other entities(possibly including the media presentation device). As shown in FIG. 5,the example system includes a network communication interface 50, aprocessing unit 52, non-transitory data storage 54, any or all of whichcould be integrated together or, as shown, communicatively linkedtogether by a system bus, network, or other connection mechanism 56.

Network communication interface 50 could comprise one or more physicalnetwork connection mechanisms to facilitate communication on a networksuch as network 22 discussed above, and/or for engaging in direct ornetworked communication with one or more other local or remote entities.As such, the network communication interface could comprise a wirelessor wired Ethernet interface or other type of network interface, forengaging in IP communication and/or other type of network communication.

Processing unit 52, could then comprise one or more general purposeprocessors (e.g., microprocessors) and/or one or more specializedprocessors (e.g., application specific integrated circuits). Andnon-transitory data storage 54 could comprise one or more volatileand/or non-volatile storage components, such as optical, magnetic, orflash storage.

As shown, data storage 54 then stores program instructions 58, whichcould be executable by processing unit 52 to carry out variousoperations described herein. For example, the program instructions couldbe executable to (i) receive from a media presentation device, via thenetwork communication interface, a fingerprint of media content beingrendered by the media presentation device, (ii) determine that thereceived fingerprint matches multiple reference fingerprints eachcorresponding with a different respective channel, (iii) responsive todetermining that the received fingerprint matches the multiple referencefingerprints each corresponding with a different respective channel,perform disambiguation based at least in part on a location of the mediapresentation device, to determine which channel carries the mediacontent being rendered by the media presentation device, and (iv) takeaction based on the determined channel.

Various features described above could be applied in this context aswell. For example, the act of performing disambiguation based at leastin part on the location of the media presentation device could involveperforming disambiguation based at least in part on (i) the location ofthe media presentation device and (ii) an identity of a media contentdistributor that provides media content to a receiver feeding the mediapresentation device. Further, the act of taking action based on thedetermined channel could involve causing the media presentation deviceto take action based on the determined channel.

Finally, FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of an example mediapresentation device operable in accordance with the present disclosure.In line with the discussion above, this media presentation device couldtake various forms. For instance, it could be a television, computermonitor, or other device that operates to receive and render videocontent, and/or it could be a loudspeaker, a pair of headphones, orother device that operates to receive and render audio content. Numerousother examples are possible as well.

As shown in FIG. 6, the example media presentation device includes amedia input interface 60, a media presentation interface 62, a networkcommunication interface 64, a processing unit 66, and non-transitorydata storage 68, any or all of which could be integrated together or, asshown, communicatively linked together by a system bus, network, orother connection mechanism 70.

Media input interface 60 could comprise a physical communicationinterface for receiving media content to be presented by the mediapresentation device. As such, the media input interface could includeone or more wired and/or wireless interfaces for establishingcommunication with and receiving media content in analog or digital formfrom a receiver or other device or system. For example, the media inputinterface could include one or more interfaces compliant with protocolssuch as DVI, HDMI, VGA, USB, BLUETOOTH, WIFI, among numerous others.

Media presentation interface 62 could then comprise one or morecomponents to facilitate presentation of the received media content. Byway of example, the media presentation interface could comprise a userinterface such as a display screen and/or a loudspeaker, as well as oneor more drivers or other components for processing the received mediacontent to facilitate presentation of the content on the user interface.

Network communication interface 64 could comprise a physical networkconnection mechanism to facilitate communication on a network such asnetwork 22 discussed above, and/or for engaging in direct or networkedcommunication with one or more other local or remote entities. As such,the network communication interface could comprise a wireless or wiredEthernet interface or other type of network interface, for engaging inIP communication and/or other type of network communication.

Processing unit 66 could then comprise one or more general purposeprocessors (e.g., microprocessors) and/or one or more specializedprocessors (e.g., application specific integrated circuits). Andnon-transitory data storage 68 could comprise one or more volatileand/or non-volatile storage components, such as optical, magnetic, orflash storage. Further, as shown, data storage 68 stores programinstructions 72, which could be executable by processing unit 66 tocarry out various operations described here. For example, the programinstructions could be executable to generate on an ongoing basis afingerprint of media content being rendered by the media presentationdevice, based on analysis of the media content being received at themedia input interface 60 and/or being processed at the mediapresentation interface, and to provide the generated fingerprint on anongoing basis to facilitate channel identification as described herein.

Exemplary embodiments have been described above. Those skilled in theart will understand, however, that changes and modifications may be madeto these embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: detecting by a computingsystem that digital fingerprint data representing media content beingrendered by a media presentation device matches multiple instances ofreference fingerprint data each corresponding with a differentrespective channel; responsive to the detecting, performing by thecomputing system disambiguation based at least in part on a location ofthe media presentation device, to determine which channel the mediapresentation device is receiving the media content on, whereinperforming the disambiguation comprises, based at least in part on amatch between the location of the media presentation device and alocation associated with a particular one of the multiple instances ofreference fingerprint data, determining that the respective channel withwhich the particular instance of reference fingerprint data correspondsis the channel that the media presentation device is receiving mediacontent on; and taking action based on the determined channel.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the computing system is an entity other thanthe media presentation device, and wherein the digital fingerprint datais generated by the media presentation device, the method furthercomprising: receiving by the computing system, from the mediapresentation device, the digital fingerprint data generated by the mediapresentation device.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the multipleinstances of reference fingerprint data are selected from a plurality ofinstances of reference fingerprint data, and wherein detecting that thedigital fingerprint data representing the media content being renderedby the media presentation device matches the multiple instances ofreference fingerprint data comprises: comparing the digital fingerprintdata representing the media content being rendered by the mediapresentation device with the plurality of instance reference fingerprintdata; and based on the comparing, determining that the digitalfingerprint data representing the media content being rendered by themedia presentation device matches the multiple instances of referencefingerprint data.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising detectingand flagging a multi-match group comprising the multiple instances ofreference fingerprint data, wherein determining that the digitalfingerprint data representing the media content being rendered by themedia presentation device matches the multiple instances of referencefingerprint data comprises determining that the digital fingerprint datamatches the instances of reference fingerprint data of the flaggedmulti-match group.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: makinga determination that the location of the media presentation devicematches the location associated with the particular instance ofreference fingerprint data.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprisingdetermining the location of the media presentation device, to facilitatemaking the determination that the location of the media presentationdevice matches the location associated with the particular instance ofreference fingerprint data.
 7. The method of claim 6, whereindetermining the location of the media presentation device is based onidentification of location-distinguishing content being rendered by themedia presentation device.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein thelocation-distinguishing content comprises a local commercial or localnews program, and wherein determining the location of the mediapresentation device based on the location-distinguishing contentcomprises: determining a location associated with the local commercialor local news program; and based on the determined location associatedwith the local commercial or local news program, determining that thelocation of the media presentation device is the location associatedwith the local commercial or local news program.
 9. The method of claim1, wherein performing disambiguation based at least in part on thelocation of the media presentation device comprises performing thedisambiguation based at least in part on the location of the mediapresentation device and based at least in part on an identity of adistributor of the media content being rendered by the mediapresentation device.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein performingdisambiguation based at least in part on the location of the mediapresentation device comprises: detecting that the particular instance ofreference fingerprint data of the multiple instances of referencefingerprint data represents location-specific content and that thedigital fingerprint data representing media content being rendered bythe media presentation device also represents the location-specificcontent; and based at least on the detecting that the particularinstance of reference fingerprint data of the multiple instances ofreference fingerprint data represents location-specific content and thatthe digital fingerprint data representing media content being renderedby the media presentation device also represents the location-specificcontent, concluding that the channel corresponding with the particularinstance of reference fingerprint data is the channel being rendered bythe media presentation device.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein takingaction based on the determined channel comprises causing supplementalchannel-specific content to be presented in conjunction with the mediacontent being rendered by the media presentation device.
 12. The methodof claim 1, wherein taking action based on the determined channelcomprises causing an advertisement to replace a predetermined portion ofthe media content being rendered by the media presentation device.
 13. Amedia presentation device comprising: a media input interface throughwhich to receive media content to be presented by the media presentationdevice; a media presentation interface for presenting the received mediacontent; a network communication interface; a processing unit;non-transitory data storage; and program instructions stored in thenon-transitory data storage and executable by the processing unit tocause the media presentation device to carry out operations including:generating digital fingerprint data of the media content based onanalysis of the media content, and outputting the generated digitalfingerprint data for transmission through the network communicationinterface to a server, providing the server with an indication of alocation of the media presentation device, wherein providing the serverwith the indication of the location of the media presentation deviceenables the server to use the location of the media presentation deviceas a basis to determine a channel on which the media presentation deviceis receiving the media content when the server determines that thedigital fingerprint data matches reference fingerprint datacorresponding respectively with each of multiple different channels,wherein using the location of the media presentation device as a basisto determine the channel on which the media presentation device isreceiving the media content includes, based at least in part on a matchbetween the location of the media presentation device and a locationassociated with a particular one of the multiple channels with which thereference fingerprint data corresponds, determining that the particularchannel is the channel on which the media presentation device isreceiving the media content, receiving supplemental media content basedon the channel that the server determined, and presenting the receivedsupplemental media content in conjunction with the media content beingpresented by the media presentation device.
 14. The media presentationdevice of claim 13, wherein outputting the generated digital fingerprintdata for transmission through the network communication interface to theserver comprises outputting a communication providing the generateddigital fingerprint data, and wherein providing the server with theindication of the location of the media presentation device comprisesproviding the indication in the communication.
 15. The mediapresentation device of claim 13, wherein the supplementalchannel-specific content comprises at least one of a pop-upadvertisement, a commercial break, or a channel-identification.
 16. Themedia presentation device of claim 13, wherein the supplemental mediacontent comprises an advertisement, and wherein presenting thesupplemental media content in conjunction with the media content beingpresented by the media presentation device comprises presenting theadvertisement as a replacement for a portion of the media content beingpresented by the media presentation device.
 17. A method comprising:generating, by a media presentation device, digital fingerprint data ofmedia content being received and presented by the media presentationdevice, wherein generating the digital fingerprint data is based onanalysis of the media content being received and presented;transmitting, by the media presentation device, the generated digitalfingerprint data to a server; and providing, by the media presentationdevice, the server with an indication of a location of the mediapresentation device, wherein providing the server with the indication ofthe location of the media presentation device enables the server to usethe location of the media presentation device as a basis to determine achannel on which the media presentation device is receiving the mediacontent when the server determines that the digital fingerprint datamatches reference fingerprint data corresponding respectively with eachof multiple different channels, wherein using the location of the mediapresentation device as a basis to determine the channel on which themedia presentation device is receiving the media content includes, basedat least in part on a match between the location of the mediapresentation device and a location associated with a particular one ofthe multiple channels with which the reference fingerprint datacorresponds, determining that the particular channel is the channel onwhich the media presentation device is receiving the media content,receiving, by the media presentation device, supplemental media contentbased on the channel that the server determined, and presenting, by themedia presentation device, the received supplemental media content inconjunction with the media content being presented by the mediapresentation device.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein transmittingthe generated digital fingerprint data to the server comprisestransmitting to the server a communication providing the generateddigital fingerprint data, and wherein providing the server with theindication of the location of the media presentation device comprisesproviding the indication in the communication.
 19. The method of claim17, wherein the supplemental channel-specific content comprises at leastone of a pop-up advertisement, a commercial break, or achannel-identificati on.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein thesupplemental media content comprises an advertisement, and whereinpresenting the supplemental media content in conjunction with the mediacontent being presented by the media presentation device comprisespresenting the advertisement as a replacement for a portion of the mediacontent being presented by the media presentation device.